IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl gets midweek date for 2025

The University of South Alabama won last year’s IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, defeating Western Michigan. (File Photo)

By BARRY ALLEN

The 12th annual IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl is back on the midweek date. But it’s still one of the first games played in the post season.

The game, renamed last year from the Camellia Bowl, will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Cramton Bowl, ESPN Events announced today.

Kickoff is set for at 8 p.m. local time and will be televised by ESPN. 

It is the only bowl game scheduled for the evening.

"We are thrilled to once again host the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl that places the City of Montgomery in the national spotlight,” IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl Executive Director Clay Norrell said. “We are excited to build on last year's success with IS4S, and our other community partners.”

The IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl was first played on Dec. 20, 2014. Bowling Green defeated South Alabama 33-28 in the inaugural game. The game followed the annual Heisman Award ceremony on ESPN and was the first bowl game of the season.

South Alabama defeated Western Michigan 30-23 in last year’s game. 

Norell, in his first year as the executive director of the bowl game, didn’t have a preference on the game time but expects to have another good crowd, no matter which two schools visit Montgomery.

“We expect another great crowd and expect the River Region to be here for the game,” he said. “It’s been an exciting game each year and there is no reason to expect anything less this season.”

The IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl matches team from the Mid-American Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA. 

Tickets will go on sale later in the football season and can be purchased on the website (click).

IS4S SALUTE TO VETERANS BOWL RESULTS:

Game-by-scores of the IS4S Saluto Veterans Bowl

 Date                    Result                                                                             TV

Dec. 20, 2014   Bowling Green 33, South Alabama 28                 ESPN

Dec. 19, 2015   Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29                              ESPN

Dec. 17, 2016   Appalachian State 31, Toledo 28                           ESPN

Dec. 16, 2017   Middle Tennessee 35, Arkansas St. 30                ESPN

Dec. 15, 2018   Georgia Southern 23, E. Michigan 21                   ESPN

Dec. 21, 2019   Arkansas St. 34, FIU 26                                             ESPN

Dec. 25, 2020   Buffalo 17, Marshall 10                                             ESPN

Dec. 25, 2021   Georgia State 51, Ball State 20                               ESPN

Dec. 27, 2022   Buffalo 23, Georgia Southern 21                           ESPN

Dec. 23, 2023   Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19               ESPN

Dec. 14, 2024   South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23          ESPN